Archive for the ‘News’ Category

GO Team! Hooray! Our new book, Game Day: 50 Fun Spirit Fleece Projects To Sewfrom St. Martin’s Press releases TODAY!! After months of wading through mounds of fleece, and whipping up this “go team” spirit gear, it’s finally time to introduce you to our new “baby”. Fleece is a super fabric, available in a ton of colors, prints and types. AND best part is you can find it in TONS of team or school colors and licensed team prints to please all sports fans in the family–no matter what their age (or who they cheer for!). We included more than fifty stress-free sewing projects, designed for tailgating, game time, men and women, kids and babies, man’s best friend, and a few No-Sew projects too. Here’s a sneak peek at a few of our favorites.

Doggie Hoodie

Lazy Day Capris

Tailgate Party

Taggles Lovey

Check the playbook included for info on fleece fabric types, notions and tools, and our tips and techniques for working with this wonder fabric. And what Game Day tailgate would be complete without a game of Cornhole? We even show you how to make your own game boards, bean (corn) bags and post the rules to keep everyone honest!

Order Game Day HERE! And while you are visiting check out my Q&A at the SMP Craft site, as their author of the month (thank you St. Martin’s-this is a pretty cool honor!). Doing a spirit-filled happy dance here in the DIYStyle studio. May every day be a Game Day. And my own personal shout-out–Go Cards!!

For us at DIYStyle, DIY stands for “Design It Yourself”. Originally we meant that in the literal sense of designing & creating as it applied to sewing–YOUR Style. Design It Yourself Style. As we have grown (older!), these Creative Chicks are an ever evolving flock–with TONS of talents–and a bunch of pro expertise to share, not necessarily limited to the sewing, crafting and project area!

So (or Sew), to keep us moving in a fresh new direction, we’ll be whipping DIYStyle.net into a different form. Can’t wait to introduce you to our new team, all of them Creative Chicks LONG before they came to be part of DIYStyle. We think you will enjoy getting some of their (and ours) pro perspectives on fun fashion, fast good-for-you-food, entertaining, parenting, personal style, real beauty, balance (if there is such a thing!), and anything else we decide to tackle. YES, creating and sewing fashion will ALWAYS be our foundation at DIYStyle. I guess what I am trying to say is we are not only DIYStyle to sewing, we are SO much more. We lead crazy diverse lives too! That includes creating not “just” for 20-somethings, but all of you who are young at heart not matter what the age. I am convinced, sharing knowledge, advice and the “little secrets” between the generations is the real key. Mom, daughter, friend, DIYStyle Creative Chickie.

In keeping, Allyce and I will be bringing you some fun (and sometimes funny–hey you gotta laugh!) Mom and daughter stuff. Yeah, she learned to sew from me, studied fashion at Stephens, and now is a “real life” (hard working) fashion designer! I have enjoyed a career in the sewing and design area all of my life and now have added teaching at a University in the Fashion Design Department to the mix! Together we have been writing, designing, and sewing original projects for more years collectively than I care to admit to! More recently I have had a real live education into the RTW fashion world, helping her roll out Allyce King Swim.

Now in this next chapter of DIYStyle, we get to share the fun and our adventures with all you–our Chickies. Can’t wait for the DIYStyle party to begin. Will you join us?!

After a short hiatus from DIYStyle, we are back and ready to SEW!! If you have kept up with us on Facebook, you have heard about some of our adventures. Allyce, I and the Creative Chicks have been super busy with our own personal projects all summer and fall (Allyce now designs for her line Allyce King Swim too). Now that we are headed into the holidays I can let you all in on some EXCITING goings on here in the DIYStyle studio!

We have a BIG announcement (at least big for us!). We are writing the very first book from DIYStyle! I can’t divulge the actual topic and title just yet, but stay posted and watch for that news as soon as I get the green light to spill the beans from our publisher. Due out in Fall/Winter 2013, we hope you will love all the great projects we are having fun whipping up for you.

And we have a new member of our team. Meet Oscar our studio kitty! He’s 7 months old and a bundle of energy. Getting in the middle of all of our creative messes and finding every stray thread to play with. He’s running the miniature daschund (Reese is 12) around in circles, and will probably add years to his life with all the extra exercise.

So what’s on the horizon for DIYStyle.net? A relaunch by spring with MANY more projects, a whole new sewing tips and video section and some brand new techy additions (is techy an actual word?). It’s a TOP SECRET website component–I can’t tell yet. SOOO…..keep watch and LIKE us on Facebook to be the first to get the scoop.

I wanted all of our DIYStyle fans to know about this really cool new internet show. Right now I am on my way to Chicago, as a finalist to interview for the So You Wanna Be a Designer internet reality show, sponsored by Kenmore (Sears)! Last week I got a call from a casting agency telling me about this show that Sears was doing, and they were looking for designers just like me. So, I made it through the first round and now here I am, trekking to Chicago with some of my garments, portfolio and sewing kit in tow. They were really interested in what I have done with DIYStyle and now my new swimwear line Allyce King Swim. How cool is this?!

The whole thing gets going later this month, with the challenges streaming live from Kenmore Live Studios. Yes, sounds like you get to watch us in action (is that good or bad?). Sounds really cool, and the audience (that’s YOU) gets to weigh in on everyones creations and vote for their fav designer. Winner gets $20K to start their line (of course that’s what got my attention from the start!) and a new Kenmore washer and dryer.

So, think positive thoughts for me today when I get to show off my designs and skills for the judges and casting agency. Only 6 get chosen for the show. Keeping my fingers crossed! And if I’m in I need my DIYStyle fashionista’s and Creative Chicks to vote for me. I will let you know how it all turns out.

We love fashion! And we love independent fashion designers, especially their talent and tenacity–working hard to make it it the fashion business. So, when the opportunity arose to produce an event that supports young designers, we jumped at the chance. Mark your calendars for April 7-9, 2011. THE Fashion Competition and Fashion Business Weekend will come to St. Louis, courtesy of our event sponsor, Lumiere Place, a premier venue in downtown St. Louis.

THE Fashion Competition and Fashion Business Weekend is a 3-day event, focusing on independent fashion designers, helping them to succeed. It includes THE Fashion Competition open to Junior and Senior fashion design students at colleges and universities all over the US, as well as independent fashion business seminars, a fashion industry mixer for students, designers, educators, and media, and 3 fashion shows. The fashion shows include THE Fashion Competition finals show on Friday, April 8th, LAUNCH showcasing 6 emerging designers, and the St. Louis Independent Fashion Designers to take place on Saturday, April 9th.

Fashion Business seminars are focused on helping independent fashion designers develop and grow their business. Topics include How to Start a Fashion Business, Copyright and Trademark, Costing, Branding, and more.

Attention college professors: Drop us a note and we will add your school to our weekly email blast, updating you and your students on our growing prize list, the fashion business seminars and presenters, etc. Contact cindy@thefashioncompetition.com for more information on how your school and students can be represented.

Watch our new website THE Fashion Competition. This is event is a benefit for the Fashion Collective-St. Louis, independent fashion designers living, working, designing and selling in the metro area, and (coming soon) the St. Louis Fashion Incubator. We look forward to seeing you “under the Arch” in St. Louis!

This was not “just another fashion show”. CRUSH, held at Lumiere Place on November 13th was a charity fashion and wine tasting event, pairing six St. Louis area fashion designers with local wineries, all in an effort to raise funds for Sunny Hill, Inc., a non-profit based in the area. Sunny Hill works daily with developmentally disabled adults, teens and children, empowering them to become productive citizens and achieve their individual dreams.

So on the fabulous fashion day, all came together to make the event one to remember, and achieved their goal…..recognition for Sunny Hill, the independent designers showcasing their Spring 2011 collections, and fundraising at it’s best. What better way to encourage a love of local fashion and philanthropy!

The collections of designers Melissa Rae Brown, Miriam Coffey, Anna Friss, Paul Gibson, Allyce King, and Laura Kathleen Planck walked the runway, with over 400 excited partygoers in the audience. Here are some highlights from the show:

Kicking off the show on the runway, Victoria James, Sunny Hill’s CEO welcomes the audience

Looks from the Game Day-DIYStyle Spring 2011 Collection-Designer Allyce King

Looks from Laura Kathleen Spring 2011 Collection

Laura Kathleen Designer-Laura Kathleen Planck

Looks from Miriam Coffey Spring Collection 2011

Miriam Coffey Designer-Miriam Coffey

Looks from Penny Rae Vintage Spring 2011 Collection

Penny Rae Vintage Designer-Melissa Rae Brown

Looks from REIGN Spring 2011 Collection

REIGN Designer-Paul Gibson

I was so proud to produce the show, and all were thrilled with the response from the audience as well as the media and press. Thanks to everyone for all of their talent and hard work, front of house and behind the scenes, including the over 60 volunteer models, Hair team from American Image Salon, Make-up team from Kolours Salon, our photographer Mark Schwigen, video producer Matt Schmitt, and our tech team Jon Cummins and Zach Mielke. We could not have done this without all of you!

Now that Season 8 of Project Runway is underway, we get to see Nina Garcia on a weekly basis dolling out advice and critique to the challenged designers. As the fashion editor for Marie Claire (and formerly Elle magazine), Nina has the up-to-the-minute info on what’s hot and what’s not. And, she can disseminate a “look” and give advice on what works to be fashionable and stylish on a dime. So when her new book arrived here at DIYStyle, we were intrigued, but not surprised to see that she has now taken veritably every notable occasion and turned it into a “What to Wear” opportunity, conveying her pro style sense.

“Nina Garcia’s Look Book” with illustrations by the beloved Rubin Toledo hits the bookstore this week. An easy read, just like her previous books (“The 100″ and “Little Black Book of Style”), this one gives guidance for every category of life and style possible. With sections for work, dating, day, night, holidays, life events, weddings and dream travel she pretty well covers it all! Here are some of the topics (including some that will make you smile):

The Sweatpants Trap: What to Wear when you work from home

Come Fly With Me: What to Wear on a business trip

Love Hurts: What to Wear when you breakup with your boyfriend

The New Crew: What to Wear when you meet your new boyfriends friends

For the People: What to Wear when you are volunteering

Curtains Up: What to Wear to a Broadway play

Reality Bites: What to Wear when you are single on Valentines Day

Youth Gone Wild: What to Wear to chaperone a school dance

Objection Your Honor: What to Wear to Jury Duty

Matriarchal Chic: What to Wear to your daughter’s wedding

On the Road Again: What to Wear when traveling

All throughout Nina infuses us with her personality–laid back tongue-in-cheek humor and fashion tips, as well as the expected (per her other books) quotes and bits of wisdom from fashion icons and others that just make the book generally fun and energetic. Read the entire book cover to cover in one sitting or (like we did), just pick it up, turn to a section and start surfing around. Either way you will come away with what to wear guidance from the best fashion guru around. Just tell your girlfriends “Nina Says”!

Can you believe how excited were were at DIYStyle to find out that one of favorite St. Louis area fashion designers is a contestant on THIS new season of Project Runway! Lucky for us that we snagged an interview with him for DIYStyle long before PR got hold of him

Watch the video on our vodcast page (it’s Episode 52), and cheer Michael on when the new season of Project Runway starts on July 29th on Lifetime. Check out Michael’s page for PR to see his casting video and more. You know the Creative Chicks at DIYStyle and loads of other fashion lovers in STL and beyond will be rooting for him. You go Michael……..we LOVE you!

A girl can never have too much lingerie. And it’s even more fun to add to your stash when the goods are created by yours truly. So, our original DIYStyle Lingerie pattern (panty party anyone?) now has a sister…………tah dah……..check it out! Our first panty pack along with the Cami and chemise was styled a bit girlie. Sporty was more the theme here with a cute little halter and comfy beater tank, string bikinis and boy short. And, these pieces stitch up in a snap, just right for beginning sewers. DIYStyle for McCall’s 6128. Hope you have fun with this one…………….

Well it was inevitable. DIYStyle is located in the metro St. Louis area. Our DIYStyle vodcasts have included designer interviews from around the nation as well as several designers from our own backyard. SO, when we heard that local independent fashion, jewelry and accessory designers needed a place to showcase and sell their collections, AND we had the opportunity to expand into the space next to the DIYStyle Workshop we knew we had to take the leap! This Friday evening marks another phase for DIYStyle…..the opening of the new DIYStyle Boutique!

Excitement is in the air! We’ve been busy sprucing up the space, working with Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles ReStore (thank you Andrea!), and pulling ideas together to make a small space work for a showroom/boutique. If you are in the St. Louis area join us for our Launch party. You will get the chance to meet a few of the designers, shop their collections, and support local independent fashion.

We’ll also be carrying a few designer supplies, a section we hope to keep expanding as we grow the Boutique. And this fall we’ll add the Boutique shopping to the DIYStyle website. Let us know what designer supplies you are looking for and we’ll be sure to source and get them in. I know our BIG roll of pattern paper was a long awaited item that designers just cannot do without.

A sea of pink! That was the view, as we stood up on the balcony overlooking the ballroom at the Missouri Athletic Club. DIYStyle was honored to produce a fashion show for the St. Louis Susan G. Komen affiliate, at their annual Survivor luncheon. As the designs to be modeled filtered into the dressing rooms, and the over 600 women arrived downstairs came into the Art Deco Room, it was evident….Pink was the power color and theme for the day.

DIYStyle created the “Dreams to Design” fashion show to showcase Rejectamenta fashions that were inspired by breast cancer survivors and their stories, with student and alumni designers from Stephens College. These designs, collectively called ”Breaking the Pattern” are made from recycled materials and are very PINK. In addition, DIYStyle created a special collection of T-Shirt Surgery designs from Race for the Cure Tees. Together, these unique collections had quite an impact on our “pink ladies” at their dessert reception Sunday!

We were definitely excited to have Heidi Glaus, from News Channel 5 as the emcee. Heidi had visited the DIYStyle studio and Workshop a few months ago, so our introduction was quite entertaining as she relayed the story of making panties and then trying them on (on live TV!). And so we started…..to the song “Halo”…………..and this model walked out on the runway:

And then these:

Matt our DIYStyle video producer did a wonderful segment with survivor interviews we did at the local Komen office, coupled with pics from last years STL Race for the Cure (did you know St. Louis now has the largest race in the country with over 65K participants!?). Yes Matt, you did bring tears to everyones eyes (he told me he would do that). This was actually our time for models to do a quick change for the next set.

And then the DIYStyle Race for the Cure, T-Shirt Surgery Collection walked (rocked) the runway….to the songs “I Will Survive” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”:

Talk about audience participation! Clapping, laughing, and rocking out to the music….everyone was having a fantastic time. And our models definitely nailed this show for all (thanks girls–you’re awesome!). And a special thanks to our A/V guy who mixed all the music, timed everything precisely (slides, video, lights)…our own Jon Cummins (yes nepotism here–he did a GREAT job).

And kudos to our talented designers!

Such a wonderful cause….we were SO pumped to do this show. The women inspired all of us, and I think we inspired them as well. “Dreams to Design” is hoping to be on tour in a city near you. Let us know if you have a Susan G. Komen related event where the collection can be included! And, watch for the video of of the show to be posted very soon.

Think Pink….and support your local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure! We’re walking……how about you?

Did I get you with that tag line? Free stuff is always good. And when it’s coordinated with following this new season of Project Runway it’s even better. Last week I posted a new blog contest we are having fun with at DIYStyle…..but only a few of you paid attention! So, I’m giving all another chance to join in the guessing game, to win FREE sewing stuff. Here’s how to join in:

Make your pick: Who is your winning designer of choice?

Post your choice here on THIS blog entry, and each week we’ll see who is still in the running, both on PR and in our little game here. You MUST post to this blog entry with your designer pick before the next episode airs this Thursday night-January 28th. Anyone who guessed correctly and still has their designer in the running at week 7 (there should be about 6 designers left at that point by my calculations!) will receive a free gift from DIYStyle (and courtesy of our great sponsors). We have assorted goodies in our stash including snips, patterns, thread, fasteners and more. Really this guessing game is just for fun………..but it doesn’t hurt to get a little gift for being right……..and bragging rights to boot!

Now onto the last PR episode….

From Potato Sacks to Butt Cheeks!! Could you believe what actually walked down the runway in this show?! The challenge was innocent enough. Taking a potato sack and turning it into something beautiful (from the age old saying that any beautiful woman could look great even dressed in a potato sack). That was the beginning of some interesting sewing and design decisions, and ended up in a model walking down the runway in a creation that shocked viewers with the “skin display”.

In a way I feel sorry for the winning designer, because I think all the talk was about the poor decision (and design) from Ping. But, several pieces by other designers warrant discussion (besides her odd dress). The group keeps sewing away on the Brother sewing machines in the lab. Full up now….but not for long.

Ping at work and then the awful creation that caused the stir! Yes, you could see the model’s rear (how could Ping let that go down the runway…much less the producers. She should have gotten booted off for this one)

My favorites were Seth, Jonathan and Amy

In the end Pamela was the one that took the loss (still think it should have been Ping–am I getting too vocal here?!). And of course we can’t forget the winner of this challenge……….Jay! I absolutely adore what this guy did with burlap. As Michael Kors said, he thought the trim on the dress floated almost as if it were made of feathers. A far cry from a potato sack! Wonder what Jay will be able to pull out in the remaining challenges with actual fabric!

We’ve had a really interesting and fun year here at DIYStyle. So much happened in 2009, helping us grow in areas that I don’t think any of us Creative Chicks expected! We said goodbye to sponsors and hello to new sponsor partners, expanded our chicks on camera, opened the DIYStyle Workshop (added teaching “real live” classes and workshops), produced a successful fashion show for St. Louis Fashion Week, attended our first NY Fashion Week, and are slowly becoming part of the regional fashion and creative scene. There were 5 more DIYStyle for McCall’s patterns added to our line (kudos to the design and style know-how of Allyce and Melissa). In addition we created our Facebook and Twitter pages too. AND, Allyce graduated from fashion design school in May, and is engaged. Whew! It makes me tired just writing it all down like this.

With all of that I am sitting here wondering what IS next? What do you come to DIYStyle to experience? Our projects seem to be the number one place in our site for our visitors. What kind of projects are you looking for? Are there tips or techniques that you wish we had covered? Let us know YOUR wish list and ideas…..you might just see one soon on an upcoming vodcast or project. :)
There are SO many sewing and fashion related products out there……and some are a bit hard to nab. We are considering having some of our favorite things here in a webshop for our DIYStyle chicks. Let us know what your favs are so we can add them to the boutique!

2010 is right around the corner……..18 days and counting. We can’t believe this year has come and gone so quickly. DIYStyle has been SO lucky to have SO many friends, fans, and supporters helping us to keep up, and giving us that wonderful “shout out”. We’ve met so many cool people both in the fashion world as well as the creative arena. We are definitely blessed and want to thank each and every one of you. All of the Creative Chicks at DIYStyle wish you Happy Holidays, and (soon) a Happy New Year!

P.S. NEWS!!!! DIYStyle is looking to add more Creative Chicks to our on-camera team! If you think you have what it takes, are 18-34, have sewing and creative experience, are fashion forward, and live or can commute to the STL area, please drop us a line at info@diystyle.net! We’ll get you info about our open call and camera test we’ll be having in January at the DIYStyle Workshop!!

What a whirlwind at St. Louis Fashion Week! DIYStyle was so honored to present one of 6 shows for the fashion and style packed week. Our show was called LAUNCH–showcasing the DIYStyle Collection and the collections of 4 new designers, Connie Bourgeois, Allyce King, Maggie Laskowitz and Courtney Stiles. Each of the designers had not shown their fashion collections on the runway (besides fashion design school), so this was an opportunity of a lifetime for all of us! And it was at a super cool venue, Lumiere Place Hotel, attached to a premiere upscale downtown casino. STL Fashion Week staked out their big theater for all the shows………..we could not have asked for a better place in St. Louis to “Launch” these talented designers.

After months of preparation, designing, fitting, sewing, and organizing it all came down to the day of the show. Since the fashion show was scheduled for 1pm, our call time was SUPER early, at 6am……….not easy since most of us were still sewing away at 2:30am the day of!!! But all the models arrived (50 plus) in all, and all the volunteers (about 40), then the production team (director, lighting, sound) and all the make-up and hair artists. What a huge production, and it was so much fun to see it all come together. Now we completely understand (and appreciate) how much work and dedication goes into a professional runway show like this…….and we could not have done it without all of our teams both from DIYStyle, the volunteers and St. Louis Fashion Week! When the models started walking down the runway the adreneline was pumping, the music was playing and all flowed just beautifully!

Here’s a bunch of the pics from backstage.

We opened the show with a tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness. Each of the designers created these art to wear fashions, and DIYStyle did T-shirt surgery with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Tees. These definitely had an impact with the audience (with the models walking to Beyonce’s Halo song).

Next up was the DIYStyle Collection, showing styles from the pattern line with McCall’s, our vodcasts.

Then the collections of each of the featured designers were ready to go. First was Conjetta by Connie Bourgeois. Beauty meets the Biker!

Next up was ML by Maggie Laskowitz. Cute, bouncy, yet elegant dresses.

Allyce King Designs by Allyce King closed our LAUNCH show, with Hamptons style resort and swimwear.

For more pics from the show, check out our Facebook page. There are pics of most all of the models, and even more behind the scenes takes. Thanks to all of the STL Fashion Week crew for all the neat photos! And, check out vodcast episode #66…it’s a quick look at the runway show! Now, we’re ready for next season………….what 4 designers will be “Launched” in the Spring show?!

The Nicole Miller show is definitely one of the main fashion shows I wanted to attend at NY Fashion Week. Between the rain and loads of people, the wait was definitely worth it after all (waiting is the tough part for the shows–you have to get there super early).

If anyone can design timeless fashion it is Nicole Miller. Truely wearable clothes for all ages. Nicole Miller is one of my favorite designers that I hope to meet personally some day soon. Here were some of our favorites from the show on Friday. Notice the biker styling on tops, along with the print in piecework fashion in the dresses. Prints were in the blue/black/grey family, most looking hand dyed. Lots of slimmer pants with detail at the hip. I could wear most all of this collection…………

Exposed zip, biker style. Black everywhere in this collection.

Prints laid in almost piecework style. Flowing style with the print creating a slimming illusion.

Pretty shine with neat design lines to break it up. Lots of sheer too for tops. Love this smoky grey top with the silver blingy skirt.

DIYStyle’s first show at NY Fashion Week was Rosa Cha (yes I will always remember THIS show–my first runway show in Bryant Park !!). He designs some of the most amazing swimwear I have seen. For Spring 2010, they showed lots of lattice work, exposed zips on cover-ups & tops, polka dots… grey/blues, black, yellow & orange. The play of stripe with the dots, and the orange and yellow intertwined together in the weave of the lattice work on several of the swimsuits was striking. Rosa Cha certainly brings a fashion edge to beachwear. I love it !!!

Love this back zip in this beach dress. And the contrast stitching design.